The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federally funded grant program that qualified students may receive for no more than two years.  The maximum 1st year ACG is $750 per academic year ($375 per semester at SDSU).  The maximum 2nd year ACG is $1,300 per academic year ($650 per semester at SDSU).

Qualifications for the ACG

To qualify, the student must meet all of the following conditions—

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
• Be enrolled full time (12 units)
• Be a U. S. citizen
• Be a first or second year undergraduate student (freshman or sophomore – see clarification that follows)
• Have completed an approved “rigorous high school program of study.”  At SDSU, if the student graduated from a high school in California and met the CSU minimum standards for admission, then he or she has completed an approved program of study.  All other students, including graduates of high schools in other states, must meet one of the other sets of requirements described in detail at the U. S. Department of Education Web site.
• Meet standard eligibility criteria for all Federal Title IV financial aid, such as not being in default on a student loan, having financial need, and maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

To qualify for the first year ACG

To qualify for the first year Academic Competitiveness Grant, the student –

• must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and
• may not have previously enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.

To qualify for the second year ACG

To qualify for the second year Academic Competitiveness Grant, the student –

• must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005,
• must be a sophomore (i.e., earned no fewer than 30 units and no more than 59 units toward their undergraduate degree objective), and
• must have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or greater by the end of their freshman year.

Applying for the ACG

Students apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (refer to Step 1 – Applying for Aid). 

Determining Student's Eligibility for the ACG

The U. S. Department of Education (USDE) uses the information collected on the FAFSA to identify potentially eligible students and notifies the university.  The SDSU Office of Admissions will confirm that the student completed a rigorous high school program and then notify the SDSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS). 

• Students do not need to contact the Office of Admissions or the OFAS. 
• Confirmation of eligibility will be performed automatically.

The SDSU OFAS will utilize information provided by the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Admissions to determine if a student aid applicant meets the requirements for either a first year ACG or second year ACG. 

Awarding and Disbursement of ACG

Students who qualify for the first year ACG will be notified usually with their initial financial aid award notification.  

Disbursement of ACG may not take place until after the university's census date as awarded students must be enrolled full time for the semester to receive the award.

By mid-October we will notify students who qualify for the second year ACG.  Eligible students who have already received their financial aid for the fall will have their aid packages adjusted to reflect their eligibility for the new award.

ACG, in combination with the student’s Expected Family Contribution, financial aid, and other resources, cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance.  Therefore, in some cases, the ACG will replace other financial aid, especially student and parent loan eligibility.   Students will be notified of the new award and any adjustment to other aid by e-mail and an Alert message in their AidLink account.

If sufficient funds are not available for all eligible students within a given year, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) may notably reduce award amounts nationwide.

For additional information about the Academic Competitiveness Grant, go to the
U. S. Department of Education Web site.